CSB: Community Supported Bread

Laura Birshan's Bakester is setting out to change the way we eat our loaves, boasting fresh-from-the-oven bread delivered weekly.

By this time, most of us are familiar with Community Supported Agriculture setups—commonly dubbed CSA’s—that deliver weekly boxes of seasonal produce in return for a pre-season payment, and now, one local baker is taking inspiration from the farmer’s handbook.

California transplant Laura Birshan’s new “Community Supported Bread” business Bakester allows artisan bread fanatics to sign-up for weekly bread deliveries (in 4, 12, 20, or 52 week subscriptions) straight to their homes or offices. Each week, members receive a different small-batch, wild-fermented loaf—think parmesan and black pepper, sesame seed, semolina and fennel, or coriander and raisin—made with local ingredients from a professional baker. FYI: She'll accomodate some special dietary needs, like nut allergies or non-dairy preferences, but is leaving the gluten-free goods to the GF pros around town.

Why CSB? According to Birshan, Bakester’s bake-to-order program means no loaves are left at the end of the day (a problem plaguing many local bakeries), which means less bread in the trash and more bread in your breadbox—which may just be the best thing since, well, you know.